Wilma Mankiller

Wilma Mankiller (1945–2010) was a leader who guided the Cherokee Nation, a Native American tribe. She became the first woman principal chief in the history of the Cherokee Nation, taking the lead in caring for the affairs and future of her own people. She was the first woman to rise to a position that men had long held.

On the reverse of the coin is engraved the image of Wilma Mankiller with a shawl draped over her shoulders. Beside her are the seven-pointed star that symbolizes the Cherokee Nation, along with the words “Cherokee Nation” written in the Cherokee syllabary. It is a composition that shows the tribe’s identity through both image and script.

The seven-pointed star and the Cherokee script signify the culture and tradition this tribe has long preserved. As a leader, Mankiller devoted herself to improving the livelihoods of her people and to building a community that decides for itself and runs itself.

As both a Native American and a woman, the path she walked was by no means smooth. Even amid prejudice and hardship, she gathered people together as one and earned trust through a way of solving problems by joining forces together. In this way, the position of the first woman principal chief opened up new possibilities for those who followed.

Gazing at the image of her wrapped in a shawl and the Cherokee script on the coin, we recall the life of a leader who moved forward while cherishing and preserving her own roots. Wilma Mankiller is honored today as a figure who represents the pride of the Native American community.